It is Fraud Prevention Month and Alberta RCMP are trying to educate you on the dangers of scams to you don’t get duped.
Alberta RCMP said identity theft, phone scams, email scams, mail theft and theft of documents continues to be an issue in the province and officers have some tips to stay safe.
“Identity fraud is one of the most common forms of fraud in Canada,” explained Cpl. Sean Milne, Alberta RCMP Provincial Economic Crime Team. “Criminals will often steal a person’s identity to commit other crimes such as fraudulently applying for loans or credit cards, opening bank accounts, transferring bank funds and more.”
RCMP suggest you always shred your personal and financial documents before disposal, check your accounts for unusual activity and help raise awareness with family and friends by sharing any strange experiences.
Businesses are also being targeted by scammers in the province, according to Alberta RCMP.
RCMP said they have seen a number of different styles of scams targeting businesses, such as mortgage fraud, door-to-door scams, duct cleaning scams, business emails being compromised and phishing scams.
“Whether you are a member of the public looking for a business or a business owner, you must always be diligent about keeping your personal information private and familiarizing yourself with the warning signs,” Milne said.
Some tips to keep you safe include keeping your personal information private, checking website URLs by looking for the secure icon on the search bar.
If you are unsure of whether you are being targeted by a scam, you can learn more at antifraudcentre.ca. You’re also advised to contact your bank and credit card company if you believe your personal or financial information has been compromised.
You can find more fraud prevention information and resources by following RCMP in Alberta on Facebook or @RCMPAlberta on Twitter.
tdosser@postmedia.com
twitter.com/travisdosser
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.
365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4
© 2023 Sherwood Park News, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited.
This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.